Blank-cutting machine



Nov. 13, 1928.

R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1923 9 Sheets-Sheet l 33M ma @bt m.

R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Maron 6, 192sA 9 sheets-sheet. 2

@51g hi@ abbi/mug.

9 Sheets-Sheet R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1925v Nov. 13,A 1928.

R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 6, 1925 R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. I3, 1928. 1,691,795 R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1923 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 R. G. ANDERSON BLANK CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1923 9 Sheets-Sheet B Nov. 13,1928. .1,691,795

' Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,795

. R. G. ANDERSON BLANK VCUTTING MACHINE Filed Maron 6, 1923 9 sheets-sheet 9 3512? M1 elf/toma.

Patented Nov. 13, 192.81.v l .i

ROLAND G. ANDERSON,

' erica.

SIGNMNTS, TO WELLMAN ZCOMPANY, OF MEDEORD, MASSA USETTS, A. CORPORA- 'JlION OF MAINE.

` Bilanz-CUTTING morfina.

Application led March 6, 1923. Serial N o. 623,141.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting and embossing blanks, more particularly to a machine for cutting rubber soles from sheet stock and embossing) the same.

Machines for cutting blanks such as rub' ber soles from sheet stock havebeen knowni pat'- h dethe- for many years ,^and a large number of ents have been taken out covering suc vices. As far-as I am aware, however, rubber sole cutting machines 'at present in f use are confined to substantially onel type,v

brandsvbe impressed on. However, owing namely thatin which 'the stock is clamped between a; sole pattern and work' bed andv a 4knife driven around the edge of the pattern l5 to cut the sole. In order to provide vsuch flexibility lin the machine that it may out different sizes .of soles 'the knife-supporting mechanism is formed of a number of movably connected parts extending vbetween the knife proper and a drivin -Adjacent the driving means the mechanism is constrained b the guide to -follow a more or less exten ed closed path, and at an intermediate point this mechanism is further constrained by a device known as .a leader to follow a closed path which more closely-approximates the form of the sole to o be out, but which is not necessarily coextensive with the sole, and finally ,the knife itself, directly follows the pattern from which the sole is to be cut. VIn order to 'further pro' vide for different vsizes of sole patternsthe guide for the driving means and the leader are both movable in a plane parallel to that of the stock, and their actuating mechanisms yare so formed that during the cutting of an intermediate .size sole theguide and leader ma be held stationary, or approximately so, while when cutting a large sole the guide 40 and leader are given aoplus movement synchronous-with the knife adjacent each end A of its path in order to more closelyv approxio mate the path'of the knife around the pattern and when cutting small sizes the 'guide and leader are iven a minus .movement at each end of the knife path for the same purpose.' o.

Rubber sole stock is ordinarily lcalendered v by the use of an engraved roll in such man- 'y ner as to provide a longitudinal knurled or otherwise roughened surface strip on the stock from which the ball portion of the sole may be out, an intermediate slightly thinner ifo-supportingv to--loev handled by the operator,

a ticket of, soles containing4 brandv stamped into the come practically smooth portion corresponding to the shank portion of `a sole, and another thickened or Monnrseovn, oonnnerrcur, As GNoa, BY MESNE AS- knurled surface strlp- 'corresponding to Athe A i heel 'portion of the 'sole (see-Fi shankvportion of asole is usua y withan emblem such is formed by a correspondingly engraved provided portion of the calender roll. The larger actories usually have qu1te a number of different brands and it is therefore necessary 1nforming the sole stock that these diierent to the expense of the calender rolls, the space occupied by them, and the time taken in exchanging them, it vide a se arate engraved roll for eachl brand used. ence'it is customaryto engrave the shank portion 'of a roll with two series of brand marks', which-for convenience may be designated brand A and brand 13, the brand B marks alternating on the roll with those of brand A. A calendered sheet coming from such 'a roll will have the marks A and B alternately limpressed on the smooth long portion correspondin tothe shank portion ofthe sole. v This ca endered stock is cut intol pieces of a convenient length and ifhe is cutting i A for instance, h'efeeds the stoe under the sole cutting mechanisml and cutsout soles around the brand AI only', While the intermediate stock Iportions marked with brand B become scrap. In a similar manner if a ticket of soles containing the brand B be desired the intermediate portions of stock containing the A .brand become' scrap.

the stock accuratelyfenough to uniformly vdispose the brand mark at the center 'of the shank-on the cut sole. Beforeproceeding to cut the stock the operator with a hand stamp impresses a size mark adjacentv each brand which he is to cut. As these size marks are stock they fill lup and bei illegible when the finished article is :varmshed before vulcanizing it, and -itis therefore necessary ordinarily to again mark the sizes on the soles by printing in colors. 'o

'The machines at'present Vin use, so far as I am aware, are capable of cuttingthe sole with a variable angle bevel, but this lbevel as a trademark which'.l

is impracticable, to prof 9). The

f I' knurled wearing surface to theattaching surface, which is rolledv Y for someV distancef/'on'fthe"'upper. -Suchf soles'f must be cut with an under bevel, -vthat is: OneVVV that extends inwardly from the knurled p a formsgwhat is'lk'nownasyva plain edge sole.j"-A large number of, footwear articles, however, are provided with what is known as a rolled edge. sole in which the solo aroundyfthe 'edge of" the larticle wearing surface of the sole. The machines at present in use can only` cut such a sole by" reversing the stockv in such manneras to present its rear or smooth attaching surface to the knife. tionable for a number of reasons. In the l.first place the operator cannot then accurately locate the outer smooth shank portion of the sole with reference to the pattern, and in the second place he cannot accurately'lo2 cate the brand mark so that it will be centered with respect to ,the sides of the sole.l The only guide which he has is the slightly raised surface formed on the bottom by the stamped size marks, and fthis is ordinarily made plainer lby the operator by rubbing chalk over the raised portions or by scratching them with a knife. It is obvious that this consumes time and in addition at best it is a very poor means of locating the brand mark slnce theV stamped size marks are themselves not uniformly placed-by Atheoperator when `usin a hand stamp. "It has been proposed, as disclosed in patent to Knight, No. 436,359, to stamp a niark onv a sole simultaneously with the cutting operation by means 'of co.-

operating .dies on opposite sides of the stock? However, this method is impracticable and open to many objections,and it is significant that although the patent has been issuedfor over thirty years the antiquatedl and objectionablemethod of marking the emblem von the sole during the calenderin isstill in extensive use. A stamping meca'nism of the p type shown inlthe Knight patent is objectionable for the reason thatoneof the dies is vrigid :with the sole patternand it therefore requires a relatively `heavy pressure on the 'sole pattern, while owingto the plastic and tackynature of the sole stock itis essential that'it be clamped with just suiiicient pressure to prevent movement during the sole cutting operation, otherwise it will become marred. The diesare also not readily exchangeable when itis desired to use a different brand or cut a vdifferent size and they cannot be adjusted relatively to the sole pattern when cutting different ferent thicknesses of stock. Mbreover with the use of co-operating dies a clear cut raised Impression cannot be obtained owin to the .iature of the. material to be embosse If a 'heavy pressure is used sufiicient to cause an' actual flow of the rubber stock the entire portion of the stock vwithin the yarea of the This method is highly objec' sizes, or for dif-a tional view offa part of the left of Fig. 2;.` Figa 3 is ay dies becomes very much thinned out and sole stock when reversed, but the stamping L mechanism would also be rendered inoperative should the stockl be reversed.

A number of patents have also been issued,

`for conveyor mechanism for automatically feeding the Stock to sole cutting machines, but these devices are impractical and as far as I am -awarethere is no machine of the type described at'present in use for cutting rubber solesin which anl automatic feedis Y provided. As a result the operator must eed the/stock manually between the work bed and pattern and [relatively move' them to clamp the stock during the cutting out of a sole, then release the stock and feed it forward for the next cutting operation. Y

An object of my invention is to provide an improved wholly automatic machine for cutting blanks. Another object is to provide a machine forcutting rubber soles or other blanks with any desired angle of cut and with either a top bevel or an under bevel. Still another object is to providel an improved mechanism for embossing an emblem andsize orany other indicia in a definite position on a sole or other blank simultaneously with the cutting operation but independently thereof. Still another object is to emboss by the use of a single'die.,iA furnol Objectis to proproved form of conveyor. Finally, the

inventioni` aims generally to improve sole cutting mechanism as regards simplicity and durability,4 ease of operation, capacity,

accuracy, and quietnes's.

- For a detailed disclosure vof the invention reference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

e Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,- of the upper part of the machine. Fig. 1a is, a detail sectionalview on a large. scale ofthe work bed and its support. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine below that shown in .Fig.` l, with the conveyor mechanism omitted. Fig. '2al is a. part secmachine to the partly broken awagf,7 rear elevation of the lower partv of the conveyor. l Fig.

veyor mechanism. l

drive roll of the consectional view of the veyor. Fig. 11. is an `enlarged elevation,`

partly in section, of the cutting mechanism and its actuating means. Fig. 12 is a sec- .tional detail view illustrating the manner I block holder.

`of av sole pattern. .Fig

- bonnet and leader.

'larly to Figs. 1, 2, and

Aby

y atesl the 'pivoted arm Fig. 13 is a plan 14' -is a sectional means for thedrive ig..15 isa section on .Fig 14. "'F 16 "is a of cutting a roll edgeA sole.

detail ofthe actuatin the'line 15-15 of detail view illustrating drawing the vknife whenfcutting a roll edge sole. ,Fig 17 is a similar view showing the parts in anotherl position. Fig 18 is a bottom plan of the knife tracker. Fig. 19 is aside elevation thereof 'partly in section. Fig. 20 isa part sectional view 'of the knife 21 is a side elevation of a gauge. Fig. 22 is a front elevation of the gauge, partly in section. Fig. 23 is' a detail of the 'chain' tighteningl mechanism. Fig. 24 is an enlarged view, longitudinal section, ofthe embossing mechanism and sole pattern support. Fig. 25 is a plan of an embossing die; and Fig. 26 is a similar plan of a size embossing die.

M rif/drive and tuorlo bed lifting mechamlsm.

Referringl tothe drawings', more particu- 3, the'nuineral 1 designates themain frame of the machine, which at its upper end is provided with an overhan g arm 2, and at-its rearwith a supporting bracket 3 for the motor 4. vThe motor by means of the chain 5 drives a lsgrocket'frely mounted on a shaft 7, and t e sprocket is clutched to ing relation by the following parts. YPivotallv mounted atythebase of the machine ,is a foot lever 8 normally held in raised lpositionby the tension spring 9, and below the foot lever there is provided a spring pressedv dog 1() adapted to engage the pin 11 .carried the lever upon depression of the latter. A link 12 \is attached at its lower end to the lever 8,'and at its upper end to one -arm of the bell crank 13, the other arm ofthe bell crank being pivotally attached to a sleeve 14' slidably mounted on the shaft 7. The sleeve 14upon being movedv forwardly actu- 15 ofa well-known form of clutch so as to tighten the clutch member 16.on a co-operatin .clutch member formed by the hub of. sproc et 6. One'end the tracker for withally partly in central the shaft in drivi tion a pair of oppositely of the shaft 7 is connected by av one-way clutch 17 to a secondfshaft 18, the latter being providedat its otherend with the operating crank 19 by which the machine may be manu- A gear 20 ally operated when desired. mounted at the rear end of the shaft 7 meshes with a gear 21 carried by a vertical shaft, 22, which latter` operates the cutting mechanism in a manner to be later described.. Also mount on the shaft 7 is a worm 23 meshing with a worm wheel .24 mounted on a transverse cam shaft 25, and secured on this shaft 1s a cam'26. Co-operating with th periphery V of this cam is a cam` roll 2 mounted on an arm 28 secured to a rock shaft 29, and also secured to this shaft is an upwardly extending rock arm 30 to which isconnected a tension spring 30 which mainj' tains the cam roll continuously in contact .with the cam. The arm 30 through suitable mechanism raises. and lowers the work bed. In order that the work bed may also be manually raised when desired an angle arm 31 is also connected at one end to the rock shaft 29,' while rthe other end of the arm has a lost motion connection with the link 32 by means of the slot 33 in 'said link. The lower end of the link- 32 is pivotally connectedA to a foot lever 34 pivoted in the frame, which foot lever is normally held in raised position by the tension spring 35. A link 36 is pivotthe rock arm 30 while its other end is connected to a to gle formed by and' 38. They pivotally connected to an adjusting rod 39,

being provided for holding the parts in' adjusted position. The upper andadjustably attached at one end to'.

the links 37 ower end of the link 38 isl l which latter is threadedly connected to a .i small hand wheel 40 rotatable in the frame v 1, a lock nut 41 link 37 ofthe toggle is pivot-ally connected to a smalll slideibloc'k 42 movable in a second slide block 43 'slidable in a dove-tailed groove in the frame 1' (Fig. 7). A circular head2 44 is rotatable infa recess cut across the slide block 42, this headl being eccentrically mountedv on a stub shaft 45 rotatably mountedin the slide block 43, and an operating handle Orcrank 46 ils-pinned .tol the o posite end of the sha crank and the slide block 42 in adjusted posi- 47 -are provided 1n the "slide block 43, with whichl recesses a 'spring pressed detent 48 carried by the `crank is adapted toengage,

a handle 49l being provided on, the detent for withdrawing it.v A work bed support-50 is disposed at vthe upper end of the slide block 43 and in the present instance is formed integral therewith. In order `to vsave weight the work bed supportmay be formed as shown' in Figs. 1a and 9 with four arms.

The work bed support is provided at its cen:

tral portion with a spherically curved recess 51, vwith which' engages va vcorrespondingly ft. In order to hold t 1e disposed recesses iso may be secured a curved projection 52 on the bottom of the work bed 53. It will be seen that by this construction the work bed may be universally adjusted on its support, and secured in adjusted position by the screws 54 extending through the support and threadedly' connected to the work bed.

Uniting mechanism.

Depending from the overhanging arm 2 is a bracket 55 (see Figs. 1 and 24) provided at its lower end withan off-set extension 56 invwhich is pivotally mounted at 57 a sole pattern holder or support 58, The pattern support at its upper end encircles and is freely movable on a pin 59 mounted 'in bracket 55, and is urged to the left in Fig. 1 by a coiledspring 60, the latter also surrounding the pin, and its pressure -may be adjusted bythe nut 61, Depending from the pattern holder,58 is an arm 62 provided at the bottom with a toe 63 adapted to engage the sole pattern, The forward portion of the pattern holder is split to provide two spaced arms 64 between the ends of which pattern holder extension 65 by means of the bolt 66. In order to' prevent pivotal movement of the extension 65 on the arms 64-it is provided with a crossbar 67 pinned thereto, the projecting ends of which are adapted to fit vinto corresponding recesses' 68 formed in the arms 64. A second arm 69 is attached to the extension 65 by means of the bolt 70, and it may be here noted that when desired the extension 65 may be removed and the arm 69 directly secured to the arms 64 by the bolt 66. Mounted in the arm 69 is a pivoted spring pressed latch 71 having at its lowe end a bevellcd toe 72for engaging the sole pattern, The rsole pattern (see Figs. 13 and 24) designated vgencu'ally bythe numeral 73 is in the present V,

instance formed of a sheet metal hecl portion 74 superposed on a toe portion 754` the two parts overlapping to form a shoulder 76 adapted to engage the breast of the thickcned heel section-of the sole stock. The forward end of the sole pattern is provided with upstanding lugs777 between which extends a pin 78, beneath which the toe 63 may engage. The heel end of the pattern is also provided with a pair of opstanding lugs 79, between which extends a pin 80, adapted to snap over [he toe 72 of the latch 7l, to thereby secure the solo pattern in position, l The shank portion of the pattern is provided with an opening 80 through which may pass the embossing n'lecllanisrn-to be later described.

Mounted on the upper end of vertical shaft 22 is a gear 81 meshing with'a gear 82 carried by a horizontal shaft 83, the forward end of which latter is vtubular andv telescopically keyed in any desired manner to a shaft 84 mounted in the drive bonnet 85,..

'which runs a truck which latter is secured by the bolts 86 to a truck guiding plate 87 thelatter being slidably mounted' in channels 88 formed in eXtensions 89 of the depending side arms 90 secured to the overhanging arm 2 (Fig, 4), Mounted on the shaft 84 is a gear 91 meshing with a gear 92 journaled on a short shaft mounted in the` truck guiding plate 87. Rigid with the gear 92 is a sprocket 93 over driving chain 94. this chain at its forward end passing over two small sprockets (Fig. 23), one of which 95 has a fixed bearing in the bonnet by means of the-stub shaft 96 and nut 97. The second sprocket 98 is also carried by the bonnet 85, but its shaft 99( is eccentrically mounted l inthe stud 100 4rotatably adjustable in the bonnet 85. Hence by rotatingthe stud 100 the sprocket 98 may be moved to vary the tension of the chain 94 and then locked in position by the nut 101.

A draw bar 102 is pivotally connected at one end to the chain v94 by the stud 103. (Fig. 11), the Lother end .of the draw bar being pivotally connected to a guide formed by the upper plate 104 and lower plate 105 slidably 4disposed on opposite sides `of the truck guiding plate 87, the plates 104 and 105 being connected by bolts 106 on -which are rotatably mounted anti-friction rolls 107, these rolls being mpvable in a longitudinally ex- -tended continuous guide slot 108 formed in plate 87. It will be noted (Fig, 11) that the draw bar 102 is provided around the stud 103 with a, downwardly projecting extension 109 which slidably bears against the upper surface of plate 104, there-- by forming a .support which prevents sagging of the chain 94 between the sprockets. Also secured to the lower plate 105 is a knife guiding truck 110 (see Figs, 4 and 11) provided at its upper end vwith a thrust roller 111 disposed between the truck guiding plate 87 and a track 112 suspended b elow theplate, It will be seen that the truck 110 is constrained '\to followv exactly the pattern or shape formed by the guide slot 108. A carriage 113 is-transversely movable in the truck 110, and is held in position in the truck at its top by the angular track 114 secured to the truck, against whichv track bear the anti-friction rolls 115, while adjacent its lower end the carriage is provided wit-h laterally projecting anti-friction rolls 116 running in the angular track 117 carried -by the truck. Inward movement of the carriage on the truck is limited by the stop 118 on the carriage adapted to engage a correspondingl stop on the truck. Vertically lrotatable in the carriage is a shaft 119 t-he upper end .of which engages a coned thrust bearing 120, and downward movement of which is prethe truck guiding .vented by the bearing collar 121 secured to is a plate 123 from one end of which projects upwardly a short shaft 124 on which are rotatably mounted a roll arm 126 fromA the outer. end of which latter depends a second roll l27'(see Figs. 4 and e The shaft 119 also carries a roll 128, and

'above this an arm 129, which latter supports a'roll similar in all respects to the (Figs. 4 and 16),

the carriage4 into lthe slots 136 of to secure the leader in this position alatch is v roll 127. In order to allow the carriage 113 and supported 'parts to more closely approximate the form of the sole to be cut a device 130 known asa leader is supplied this leader 4having a central opening of the approximate shape but not necessarilyof thesame area as thesole to be cut, and extending. around thisc'entral opening is a guide liange131, the inner side of which is engaged by the rolls 125 and 128,

. while the outer side is engaged by the rolls the arms' 126 and 129, so that 110 and supported vparts are guided in a path determined' by the leader iange 131. The leader is connected to a leader carrier 132, which latter is slidable in channelsy 133 formed in extensions 133 of the arms 90. l.The leader 4is detachably connected to the leader ycarrier in the follow.- ing manner. The leader carrier is provided with a flange opening and depending carried by -from the leader carrier are spaced lugsi 135 provided withslots.

136 (see Figs. 4 and 5), and the `edge vof the leader 130 is providedV with cutouts 137 spaced in thesame manner as the'depending lugs 135. When it is desired Vto attach the leader it is placed beneath the leader carrier with the cutouts 137 in registry with the lugs 135, pushed up against the overf and then moved longif the edges of the leader the lugs 135. In order hangingv flange 134 tudinally to bring provided, which 138 connected to is formed Iof 'a spring arm the leader carrier at slotted bearing sleeve rier, and-,mounted on the arm 138. within said sleeve is a locking bolt 141 adapted to engage the opening 142 in thevleade'r (see Figs'. 16 and17).

Rigidly connected to the late 123 is a depending stud 143 on' whicJ is. pivotally 1 mounted a knife block holder 144, which holderl has a direct bearing on the lower end of the studand lhas rigidly connected thereto a sleeve 145 surrounding the upper portion of the stud. Surrounding the sleeve -145 is a coiled compressions ring 146, one end of` which is attached to tlhe plate 123 While the other 4end is attached to a tension adjusting ring 147 'rotatable on the sleeve 145 and secured in position thereon vby the set screw 148. In order to take care of the upward .thrust on the knife-block holder, 144 during the cutting operation a downwardly and an' with/.the clamp. It will be seen 134 overhanging a central.

139 which arm is vertically movable in. thev on the leader carprojecting lug end of the shaft 124 `an the upper surface ofthe knife holder 144.

The knife block 20) in which the knife holder 144 is provided with a cutaway portion (Figs. 11 and. block 151 is adjust- :ably mounted by the pivot pin 152 having al l -149 is' connected to the lower/ d' slidably engages lock bearing at each' end in the knife block j holder. B reference to Fig. 11 it will be seen that t e knife block is provided on one vwhiclris cuta ydove-tailed groove 153- for the reception of lthe straight cutting knife 154,- andby reference to. Fig. 4 .it `Will. be

which -there is formed groove v155 for the reception of a curved knife blade 156.- Referring to Figs.^11 and 20 it will be seen that one end of the .knife -block between said inclined and curved surfaces is c ut away aS reception ofthe. knife clamp 158,' which latter is threadedly mounted on the .pivot pin 152, a co mounted on the pivot'- pin 152 in engagement turning lthe pivot construction that upon.

pin 152 in onel directlon the clamp 'pression spring 159 being alsov vside with` a straight 1 inclined surface in a :curvedsurface in l a second dove-tailed sa 'l shown at 157 for the` 90 j by this e released from locking engagement at eac f of itsv endswith the corresponding knives, f

slots, the-reverse direction the clamp 158 may be again causedv to lock the knivesiny their .dove-tailed grooves. Th block an'd itsl accompanying set inany desired angular `position on the ivot pin'15'2 and flockedin such positionf` i y the setv screw 160. l

' Knife-tracker.

be later explained vit is For reasonsto the roll ed e or 1111-l desirable when cutting and upon turning the pivot pin 152in' the coiled spring '159 aiding in separating vthe knife block vand. clamp. then be adujsted 4longitudinally in their' The knives may position I e knife knives may be.

der bevell d -soles to withdraw lt e knife' bladefrom *the vsole pattern ing 'sleeve 167 carried by the leader, and held rior to releasl ing the stock after finishing t e cuttingof a- Figs. 16 to 19 a wiu provided` with aV 120 engagement with This tracker consists of a V '80 seen' 'that onv the op osite side the knife f block -is provided wit in position by the split spring washer 168 engaging the head of the pivot pin. In order to limit pivotal movement of the tracker a stop pin 169 is mounted on the pivot pin 165 and projects upwardly into a cut away portion 170 formed in the base of the bearing sleeve 167 (see Figs. 16 and 17).

' Bonnetandleader actuating means.

f' When cutting an intermediate size of sole .the sole pattern. For a similar reason it Y Ais-desirable when cutting a small sole that Y shaft 83 end of shaft 173 and engages a spiral gear' able crank i to leo-operate with a pinion 182 the endoil a shaft 183 mounted within the leader 130 be given a To accomplish this purthe bonnet 85 and minus movement.

pose the following (Figs. 14 and 15). Keyed on the end of the is a pinion 171 meshing with a second pinion 172 vcarried by a shaft 173 mounted in the upper part of thel framel. spiral gear 174 is mounted on the opposite 175 rigid on a tubular shaft 176 journalled in the frame 1.' This shaft at its opposite end is formed with an extension block-177 provided with a .dove-tailed groove for the reception of a 'slide block 178. Projecting from one side of the slide block is a stud 179 carrying a second slide block 180, while v on its opposite side the block 178 has connected thereto a vertical rack 181 adapted secured on shaft 176. Pinned tothe opposite end of the shaft 183 is an operating knob 184, and the shaft may be locked in adjusted position by the nut 185.' `The slide block) 180 is movablev in -a slot 186 in a rock armw187 pivotedv to the frame of the machine atv 188. Attached to the other end of the rock arm is a link 189 which at its opposite end is connected to thetruck guiding plate 87. The parts 177 and 178 form in effect lan adjuston the shaft 176, and. when the slide block 180 is disposed in alignment with the shaft 176v the crank will vhave a zero throw and hence the truck guiding plate 87 and entire drive bonnet'85 will remain stationary. When a large s ole pattern is 'being used the slide block 180 is onedirection in the slot 186 to 'thereby give a plus movement to the drive bonnet svn# chronous with the movement of in effect. lengthening the guide groove 108 at each end. vWhen a small sole bonnet.l

mechanism is provided' .to the opposite end of the linkend of the slide adjusted in the knife', orV

pattern lis being used'the slide block 180 isadjusted inA block 214 is Meshing Iwith the gear 175 is a gear 190 A which in turn meshes The upper endv of the rock arm 187 actuated by this gear 191 is connected by a link 192 to the leader carrier 132, and by varying given a plus or minus movement synchronous with the movement of the knife as above described for'the drive Em?)asusta@v mechanism.

with a gear 191, and l the position of the second slide block 180 the I rock arm 195 mounted on a rock 196, and also mounted on the rock shaft 196 is a second rock arm 197 connected by the link k198 (Figs. 1 and 2) to one arm of a bell crank 199 pivotedin the overhanging arm 2 at 200. A link 201 is adjustably connected at one end to the otherarm of the bell crank, and a toggle formed by the links 202 and 203 is connected.v In order to maintain the toggle normally in a broken position a tension spring 204 is .connected to the link 201 and to the overl hanging arm 2. Thev toggle link 202 is also connected (Fig. 4) to an adjusting rod 205 which is threadedly connected to a bearing sleeve 206A rotatable in the arm 2, which V sleeve is pinned to "a hand nut 207 In order to-lock the parts in adjusted position a nut 208 is also threaded on the rod 205 and adapted to engage the hand nut 207. The toggle link 203'is connected (Figs. 1 and 4)" to a slide 209 'movable in a channel in the bracket 55, said slide 'being retained in positionv 'by the plate 210. Adjacent itsl lower end (Figs. 4 and 24) the slide llO is provided with a T-shaped slot 211With v which slidably engages 'a T-shaped projection 212 formed on the bracket 55. 'Ihe lower 209 is reduced in thickness to pass between lthe arms 64 of the sole pattern support and at the bottom is lprovided with oppositely disposed guide flanges213.' n embossing slide block 214, whichis substantially U-shaped in cross "section, is provided with guide grooves 215 adapted to fit over the anges 213. Inorder to secure the embossing' slide block in adjusted position on the lower end of the slide 209 set screws 216 are provided extending through the' opposite walls of the slide block, one of said through the' slot 213 in the lower end of the slide 209.' Fixedly secured in one end of the a depending bearing lug 217,

screws also passing while at-the other end of the block a second formed; .Referring to Fig. -there is shown bearing lug held in position justing screw 220 which engages a transverse pivot pin 221 the ends of which are pivotally mounted in the sidewalls of adieblock 222, also of apblock into a groove in the pin adapted to support two dies, 20

proirimately U-shaped cross sectlon. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the tops of thewalls of the block 22,2.are yslightly Ainclined atione end as shown at 223 in order that the block may have a limited pivotal movement on, the pin 221. In order to prevent lateral movement of the block 222 on the pivot pin a small pin224 (Fig. 4) projects from the 221. In the present instance the` die block is shown'- as one for embossing'thesize and the other for embossing a trademark or other emblem. In order to lsecure the dies in position dove-tail slides 225 are secured to the bottom of the block through which are adapted to project springpressed detents 226. The dies 227 and- 228 218' 4is removably mounted and an embossing by a latch 219.'v Rotatably v the threaded portion ofD formedwith any other-desired recesses 238 are provided with dove-tailed grooves tting the respective slides and are heldin position embossing Ving dies dies are brought together under stemrd defective articles von which the 'stamping 1s by the engagement of the detents 226 with corresponding vrecesses in the.l dies.y As shown in Figs. land 24 the machine is arranged for cutting a relatively largesole, relatively large embossing slide block 214 and dieblock 222 are also used, and in order to prevent strain on the projecting portion' of the block 214 a thrust.

rod 229`is provided which is formed on its` guide flanges 230 by which it upper end with a spherically curved head 2 31 having a bearing in a corresponding recess in the head of van adjusting screw 232I threaded in the split extension 233 of vthe 'slide 209. The adjusting screw is locked in by two arms 247 pinned to a shaft position by the clamping screw 234 engaging the split ends of the extension 2331 The dies operate on the stock through the openingf80- in the sole pattern.

Owing to canized rubber stamped b the use of the ordinary cooperator as before pointed-out if these heavy pressure suilicient to c ause an actual flow of thel rubberstockthe stock escapesfrom be-` tween the dies and the material becomes too muchj thinned out 4at Vthe point where and is so weakened-as to render placed. On the other handowng to the the peculiar nature of unvul-i it cannot be' successfully elastic nature` of the'stock, if a light pressure be used the stock does not flow sutliciently but merely stretches intov the. recesses of the dies and when the pressure s released the stock stretches back again so that a ldefective and improperly filled-out stamped design is are 'the `supported s ole stock Supply die 227 which in the present instance is adapted for embossing'a rubber stock with a trademark or other emblem. The die is formed with a fiat `face 235 in which adjacent thev periphery is formed a recessl 236,-leavi1g around the outside 'of the recess a narrow a case of the die illustrated is annular. f Within the boundary of j recess 236 the die is in Fig. 26' s 1n general similar but is of van elongated more or lessA oval shape'. In all t surface 237 which in thev cases the dies are provided with a recess adjacent and concentricwith the periphery so as to form outside .of the recess a flattened closed peripheral figure,l

stock outside f the die during the embossing operation.

Uo/veyor.

l Attached to each side airs of conveyor Figs. 3', 6 and 9),

of the main frame 1. supporting brackets 239 and .mounted in the the purpose of' which is to prevent owing of the' rubber ends of the one of the pairs is aconveyor roll 24()A carried by ets 241, which may bemanner by the screws adjusted in the usual adjustable bearing brack- 242. Secured in the ends ofthe opposite pair of brackets 239 A is a second or drive roll 243, and over the rolls passes a conveyor 244 which also moves `across the work bed 53. The lower portlon of the conveyor passes under idler rolls i2 45 and also asses over a tension roll 246, which latter rol is provided for the purpose of maintaining the tension-of the conveyor even as the latter is raised and llowered by the work bed 53. The tension roll is supported 248 journalledin extensions249 on the brackets 239.v Also v'pinned to the shaft 24B is an arm 250 on which isl adjustably secured `a counter'weight 251.v Owing'to the riseI and fall of the work bed 53 the conveyor and at each side of the worlgbedy as the latter israised, and it is the efore desirable to ging. ,Referring to Fig.16 there is showna supporting table mounted at one endat 253 on-the brackets 254. Adjacent the other end ofthe table brackets ',255 extend outwardly from the most important to feed the material smoothvtables at each side to prevent sag-.

would tend to sag 252 which is 'pivotally *the f roll 261 carried by the arm 262 pivoted to Mounted on thecam shaft (Figs. 3

and 6) is a barrel cam 259 provided with groove 260 in which is disposed a cam the frame l at 263. The free end of the arm 262. is connected by a link 264-to either with a second spiral gear the upper or lower arm of an angled lever. 265 pivotally mounted at 266 on the bracket 239. lPhe purpose of this variable connection is to provide for driving the conveyor in either direction, and in the present instance the link 264 is shwn as connected to the upper arm of lever 265. AAlso con'- nected to the upper arm of lever 265 is. a link 267, thef'other end of which is pivotally connected to a pawl carrier 268 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9)'. i In order to vary.4 the throw of the pawl carrier" the link 267 is -pivotally connected to a slide block V269 movable in the pawl carrier, and this block is adjusted by the screw 270 having a threaded connection `therewith, the upper end of the screw being provided with a splral gear 271 meshing 272 rigid on the end of a shaft 273 (Fig. 10) extending through the conveyor roll 243 and provided at'its other end with an adjusting handle or crank 274. l Mounted in the handle 274 is a spring-pressed detent 275 which is adapted to engage anyone of a series ofr recesses 276k ffrmed in a dial 277, which latter is pinned to one end of a tubular shaft 278 surrounding the shaft 273, the other end' of the tubular shaft being pinned to the pawl carrier 268. v Surrounding the" shaft 278 is a second tubular V shaft 279 journalled in the ends of the conveyor brackets 239, and the conveyor roll'243 is pinned and keyed to this shaft. Also keyed to the shaft 279 are two rigidly connected ratchet wheels 280 teeth of which are inclined in opposite divrections. A pawl arm 282 is secured to a rig. s

stub shaft 282 journalled in the upper end of thepawl carrier 268, and secured in the pawl arm is a pawl 2.83 having o n opposite ends the laterally offset teeth 284 and 285. Also secured to the stub shaft 282 is a short rock arm 286 towhich one end of a coil spring 287 is connected, the other end ofthe spring beingsecured to the awl car'- rier. In the posltion shown in fu l lines in the pawl tooth 285 is shown as engaging the ratchet 281 so as kto drive the roll 243 in amanti-clockwise direction. By

and 281, the

throwing the pawl arm over, the tooth 284 l `Hence it will be seen that all that is necessary to reverse the direction of the conveyor is to disconnect the link 264 from one end of the lever 265 and connect it to the other and reverse the position of the pawl arm 282.

Gauge.

A ttached to the front edge of the work bed vpoint of the threaded portion the bore "of the body 289 is provided with an inwardly projecting ledge 294. O n each side of this ledge coil springs 295 are provided'surround-I,

90 the extension 290 in' a bal' ing the threaded port-ion 292. Thesedsprings yieldingly hold anced position, and upon lpulling up the extension the lower while by pressing down upon the extension the upper spring will be compressed. The extension 290 is provided at one side with a vertical groove 296 at the bottomof which a quadrangular recess 297 is provided, and a stop pin 298 extends through the body 289 into the groove 296, thereby preventing-rotati'on of the block 291 but allowing upward and downward `movement thereof. However, by pulling up the block 291 until the pin 298 is opposite the quadrangular portion 297 theblack may then =be given a movement of rotation of 90. Slidable and, rotatable in the a gauge rod v299, one 'end Vof vided lwith a gauge roll 300@ and a gan e arm 301 immediately adjacent said roll, while the opposite-,end of therod" is provided with a'y handle 302. Slidably mounted in the block 29.1 is la locking block 303 which is provided with a slightly elliptical cut-away portion partly surrounding the gauge rod 299. The upper end of the locking block is j and is'provided with the lock nut 305. By actuation ot' this lock nut the locking block 303 may be drawn upwardly to tightly engage the gauge rod 299 so as to prevent rotation or vslidlng movement thereof.

Operation. Y

block. 291 is` which isl prov spring is compressed threaded as shown at 304 for moving the work `ter adjusted to properly glo for varying the desired brand and size dies are connected jects beneath the pattern (Fig. 12) and if it were left in this position at the finishl of -a v die block 222 and the lat-` position it with refcutting operation it would cut through the erence to the opening 80 in the sole pattern. sole as the work bed dropped and ruin the lf a plain edge `'sole is to be cut the knife sole; This is due to the fact that the stock 154 is withdrawn from operative position is so, tacky that the cut sole tends to adhere and the curved knife 156 set in rather strongly to the waste stock surroundcutting position as in Fig. 4,

bed is set byl adjustment of the hand wheel 40 for the correct clamping pressure'on the stock and the tog- Y throw`of the embossing adjusted by lactuation to the embossing l prevent injury to the sole the tracker mechanism shown in Figs. 16 to 19 is used. The knife 154 begins the cutting operation at ies is also properly about the point D as before and shortly n of the hand wheel 207. The conveyor'is after it passes the point E the tracker roll ment for the size sole toy. right ofthe work 307 formed of in the stock and about the time i clamped the stock against the sole pattern ltravels completely around the s vWhen' cutting a plain edge sole as that .descrlbed' for the "proper feed move- 161 engages the spring 163 of the tracker.; be cut, by actuation thereby rockingV the latter from the position of the handle 274 which varies the throw ofl shown in Fig. 16- to that shown in Fig. 17. the pawl arm 268. The gauge body 289 is The knife then continues on its first revothen slid along the workbed until 1t is o lution until the sole cutting is completed at posite the pattern 73 and the gauge rod the point D. As the knife in its continued moved inwardly to bring the gauge warm 301 movement reaches substantially the point E, against the shoulder 76 at the heel of the however, the tracker roll-161passes on to sole pattern. The gauge is locked in that the tracker bar 162 as shown in Fig. 17, and positionby means of the nut 305 and itis the curved form of the latter causes the then slid out to a position slightly .to the aces knife to swing outwardlyso that 'the end of bed. The operator pd.

strip the knife blade 154 is drawnl from beneath also setto impart stock 306 on a second rag stock (Fig. 12) two are then placed on the conveyor 244. roll- 161 engages the The rag stock is used to receive the lower work bed starts to dro end ofthe cutting blade and thereby pretracker roll passes o the opposite end of vent injury' to the conveyor. The operator the tracker bar it rocks -the latter'and again places the forward edge of the stockin such Edisposes'it in the position shown in Fig. 16. position that the roll 300 of the gauge presses Due to the spring 146 on the4 knife block lon its side against the edge or breast of the Aholder the knife then swings back against thickened heel portion of the stock as shown Ithe pattern and after reaching the point C 9. The machine is then started, the next sole cutting cycle begins.

fed beneath the sole pattern, l when the vknife is about the position shown at plain edge soles, for reasons above stated', C .in Fig; 16 the work bed starts vto rise, and a leader withouta-tracker may be used the knife has reached the at such time.

D the work bed has a strip of sole tracker bar 162 the position shown at y pletely through the, machine the latter -is and the actual cutting of the sole begins.. stopped, the strip -'removed, and the `operthe knife ator then 61e pattern and proceeds with the cutting operation as The above described. Asthe stock is without ,the alternating brand marks as used with the previous machines the? spacing between s successive-cut soles may be as close as practo finish the cutting at the point D. knife then continues around the pattern a second time and as 'it reaches `a point about as indicated at E thetable starts to' drop, carrying with it the stock, which operation causes the outwardly projecting end of the output knife to cut upwardl ing waste stock. The knife then continues scrap. laround the pattern and the conveyor feed hand stamping operates to bring a new portion of stock beneath the sole pattern. About the time the and owing knife reaches the point revolution the tal le starts to rise again and at D the .cutting operation again begins. VWhen cutting a roll edge or under be sole'ithe straight knifev154 is used, and the actual cutting operation is exactly the same stock as a plain edge sole. llt f stock described. willbe seen, however, that the knlfe 154 pren of cutsoles from each strip of stock In addition the -time occupied the sizes and later printing the sizes on t y to the wholly automatic process size sole with any desired bevel the output vper unit of 'time is very greatlyincreased.

lVheny small Vsize soles auch as 4ehildre'ns ing it and hence drops with the waste stock when the work bed is lowered." In order to knife blockfholder 144 and the-supportedr and the the solel pattern. Shortly after theA tracker l as before, andas the places a fresh vstrip on the conveyor elled It, is obvious that the machine is as welll adaptedfor cutting smooth surfaced sole the knurled or'rough surface soleh The' and$ tracker 1s of course unnecessary whencutting After the strip of stock has been run com` ticable, thereby considerably increasing the l through the surroundand also greatly reducing the amount of` he finished' articles is' saved,

C on its second of cutting and simultaneously embossing any -f are to be cut the extension 65 9 are removed, as' well as the embossing slide block 214 and vdie block 222. The rear 'ter is changed`f0r. a vreason of this adjustment and the an automatic. conveyor the die marks 7e y pattern supporting arm 69, is then l connected to the arm 64 of the sole pattern bracket and the-small sole pattern placed in position. A small embossing die slide 214 nd ldie lblock s "de 209. Irrespective of the size of the solepattern usedv it will be seen that it has a4 b slight swivel movement on the pivotal con# nectionl 57 of/ the sole pattern bracket, by

reason of which the pattern .can

` itself with the-stock.

l1 atta.

ve beginning'of a sole cutting-operareadily tiontlie embossing dies move rapidly downn. clamped the the kn' au T : lmf

, pendence of j posite sides of t light pressure on ies may t ward due to; their toggle' actuation and the shapeof lthe actuating cam, which move- Just asthe dies come stock against the pattern, ife vis in about'the position D in Fig. 16. 'The pressure of the dies reaches its maximum when the knife has cut about three-quarters ofthe way around the pat,- tern, and the dies then start to rise'.

s tock is -still clamped by the pattern dge soles an-'embossing mechanism of the own could not .be used, as the cutting 1 eprojects inwardly over the pattern and .at'the shank of the pattern," which is rat-her narrow, the knife projects inwardly so far that there would be no room for the embossing mechanism.V However, bythe use of the curved knife 1,56 this diiiculty is completely obviated. y' reason of the complete indethe 'embossing mechanismv from the sole cutting mechanism, the required the solepattern can be ob# tained with the com aratively heavy res sure on the dies whic is necessary to ollitain a good impression. `The preferably about-400 lbs. or even higher, in the case of large vsiz'el dies. By the use of a single die Iam not only able to emboss all soles irrespective of the bevel onf which they are cut and simultaneously with the cutting,

accurate feed than ors are used disposed at ope work bed.4 The use of covmore uniform and two conve much when justability of Vthe slide \214`and be readily adjustedv so that the thrust of the slide 209 will .be centralized upon the dies, and by reason yof* the adjustability of the diesin a longitudinal direction aiid tlir-ustrod 222 are also attached to the" die, flow of the `stock from beneath bossing operation,

As the justable support properly aligned to take care of heldin position by the 95 screws 54. Ata-the same .tiniethis central make a .test and s die pressure is manner,

they may set at any desired point in the opening of the sole pattern when the latdiii'erent size. Also by accurate feed of will alwaysr be properly centered on the shank of the sole. Owing to the heavy pressure and form of die a very clear raised impression is obtained which does not becomeA with a stamped-in impression. .By reason of the iattened outer retaining edge 237 of the is prevented, whic would not be the case if this edge were not used. A sh not be used atthis point for the reason it would cut through the stock.l stock beneath the die is completely retained it is only very slightly thinned by the emthe small amount of stock liowi g laterally within the die area and upinto the embossing recesses. IvHence there is no substantial weakening'of the stock at the embossed portion to later -tcause defects in thefinislied article.. l A

By reason of the central universally ad 52 of the work bed it may be readily any irregularities and support completely takes care of the pressure from the embossing dies,and in case of injury the work bed' can be readily removed and anew one substituted.

ile the work bed is automatically raised and lowered during the normal operation of the machine, it may be also manually operated by actuation of the foot lever 34and varnished, as in the case 75 the die arp edge can- 80 which thinning is due to 85 this feature is valuable when adjusting the 105 purpose vsuch as when' changin sizes, varying the thickness of the stock, a justing tlie'cutting knives, or when forany-.other puiose, it is desired to first erly adjusted. The manual operation of t e entire machine at this time by means of the crank 19 at the front is also ver convenient.

Owing to the peculiar nature o the material of improper adjustments used, or by reason immediately released from the stock by withdrawing the detent crank 46 over from one position t'o the opposite one. I

' As before stated the conveyor extends across the work bed 53,' which causes the stock to be more accurately fed. than inthe separate conveyors are' used case where-two and the use of a single embossing die permits fthe employment of such a type conveyor. By the use of a pivotally mounted table .beneath if the machine is pro 1.10

49and swinging the 12o the bnveyor at the inlet side of the machine any saggingA of the conveyor and the stock supported thereon, which would tend tocause an uneven feed, is'prethe feed is to be changed at intervals it is` referable as before stated to provide a ris.- Lig and falling table on each side of the work Bythe use of the 'gauge 300-301 theoperatorcan readily position the stock on the conveyor so that the breast of the heel portion will be exactly in alignment'with the shoulder 76 on the sole pattern. If, however, for any reason it is desiredto temporarily move the gauge out of the way it is merely lifted until the stop pin 298 comes opposite the quadrangula'r groove 297, when the gauge may be swung to a position paral lel with the-conveyor so as to-entirely .clear the latter. f

It will be seen that by my invention a blank cuttingmachine has been provided, in the present instance specifically a sole eutting machine, which is easily operated, has

chines'of the prior art, allows of vthe accurate cutting with any desired bevel andsimultaneous .embossing of various styles and sizes of blanks, in which fthe parts can be adjusted or replaced with the greatest ease,- and which is com aratively quiet in operal tion, due tothe a sence of the complicated "guiding form, vtherearound, a work chain drive previously used and consequent excessive play of the parts.

f-While. a-specific-embodiment ofthe inven'- tion"has beenishown and described it is obvious that .numerous modifications in the details will suggest themselves to those skilled the art, -and it is not desired that the-in# ,vention' be limited otherwise than as ,set`

forth in the appended claims.

.Having thus described my inventionwhat I lclaim .and desire to` protect by Letters Patent is: L j 1. In a blank cutting machine, a ila-t knife guiding form, means for moving a knife vtherearound, a flat workl bedcooperating lwith the form, means including a lever for relatively movlng the form and .bed to clamp a sheet of stock, and automatic and manual actuating means'for said lever.

2. In a blank. cutting machine, a knife bed, means including a guiding form',

means for' moving a knife lever for relatively moving the form and bed .to clamp a sheet of stock, and automatic and uidino'l form means for:movin i a" knife therearound, a work bed, means including -a lever for relatively moving the form and-bed said lever, and manual means for releasing the clamped stock when desired. v 4. In a (blank cutting therearound, a .workbed support, a work bed machine, a knife) means for moving la knife .to clamp a sheet of stock, automaticand 75 J manual actuating means' for mountedl for universal movement thereon,

means for locking together said work bed and support, and means for relatively mov- Ving the form and support' to clamp the stock between said form and bed'.

5'. In a blank cuttingmachine, a lk'nlfe bed having av correspondingly curved projection adapted to engage said recess, means guiding form, means for moving a knife' for adjusting the'bed on its support' and for securing 1t in adjusted position, and means for relatively moving .the form and support to clamp the stock between said form and bed.

6. In a blank cutting machine, 'aknife i guidingform, means for moving --aY knife i therearound, a work support, means for mov-- a greatly increasedl capacltyover the maing the. same to clamp stock to said form,

conveyor means for feeding stock between said form and work supportfflat conveyor supportsl at opposite sides of and adjacent said work support, and means formoving los one end of one of said conveyor supports in unison with the worksupport. l

7. In a blank cutting imachine, a knife guiding form,l means for moving a knife therearound, a'work support, means for movingthe same to clamp .stock to saidform, a

conveyor movable between saidv vform and work support, andconveyor supports at opposite` sidesof'said work support and terminating adjacent the latter, one of said conveyor supports being pivotally mounted at its end remote. from the work-'support and adjusta other end.

8. A blank cuttingmachine comprising a bly. connected to the latter at' the work bed, a form having a peripheral knife to clamp a sheet of stock, a knife carrier ing the knife; from beneath the form.

ovable with respect to said edge 2.5

vguiding edge and cop 'rating with-the ,bed-

5to thel bed, and means for laterallywithdraw- I i 9. A blank cutting machine comprisingA iae 

